July 23, 2023 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 11

Lectionary Readings   -   Gathering   -  Word  -   Eucharist   -   Sending   -   Music and Art

Lectionary Readings

Semicontinuous
Genesis 28:10–19a
Jacob dreams of a ladder and hears the promise of the Lord.

Psalm 139:1–12, 23–24
O Lord, you have searched me; if I ascend to heaven you are there.

Complementary
Isaiah 44:6–8
I am the first and last, says the Lord; there is no god besides me.

Psalm 86:11–17
O Lord, give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

Romans 8:12–25
The whole creation waits for redemption with the children of God.

Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
Another parable of the kingdom; weeds grow among the wheat.

— Gathering —

Opening Sentences

We come. We wait.
We long. We hope.
We suffer. We pray.
We rejoice. We sing.
We know we are children of God.
We wait for Christ to set all things right.

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song


Thanksgiving For Baptism

At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession and Pardon​

At the baptismal font:
There is goodness within us that grows like fresh wheat.
There is also sin within us that chokes that wheat like weeds.
Let us bring all of who we are to God,
who can separate out what is good,
so that we are not overcome with evil.

Ever-present God,
there is no place where you are not with us.
You see us at our worst and at our best.
There is much we would hide from you—
the ways we harm your creation,
the ways we mistreat others,
the ways we turn away when we should turn toward.
Even as you know us, forgive us.
Guide our thoughts, our words, our actions,
that you may delight in us as we delight in you.

Lifting water from the font:
Beloved, hear the good news:
God knows us and forgives us
and leads us in the way of everlasting life.
Thanks be to God!

— Word —

Prayer for Illumination

At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy, Holy, Holy One,
guide us by the Spirit of truth
to hear the Word of life you speak,
and to give all glory, honor, and praise
to your threefold name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture

Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4

After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.  
Deuteronomy 6:6

Sermon

Ascription of Praise

After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Affirmation of Faith

The life, death, resurrection,
and promised coming of Jesus Christ
has set the pattern for the church’s mission.
His human life involves the church
in the common life of all people.
His service to men and women
commits the church
to work for every form of human well-being.
His suffering makes the church sensitive
to all human suffering
so that it sees the face of Christ
in the faces of persons in every kind of need.
His crucifixion discloses to the church
God’s judgment on the inhumanity
that marks human relations,
and the awful consequences
of the church’s own complicity in injustice.
In the power of the risen Christ
and the hope of his coming,
the church sees the promise
of God’s renewal of human life in society
and of God’s victory over all wrong.
The church follows this pattern
in the form of its life
and in the method of its action.
So to live and serve
is to confess Christ as Lord.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.32–33

Prayers of Intercession

Let us pray in the Spirit, who helps us in our weakness,
interceding with sighs too deep for words.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Spirit, we pray for the church . . .
Lead us more and more, by your Holy Spirit,
to live as those you have chosen and claimed,
beloved children and members of Christ’s body.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Spirit, we pray for the earth . . .
Help us to hear the groaning of creation,
and let us join the cry of suffering,
until you come to renew and restore all things.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Spirit, we pray for all nations . . .
Gather up all the peoples of the earth
in the harvest of righteousness and justice.
Let the seeds of peace flourish in this world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Spirit, we pray for this community . . .
Let the working of your Spirit among us
cause our neighbors to say with joy:
surely the Lord is in this place!
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Spirit, we pray for loved ones . . .
Show yourself to those who search for you,
at the limits of longing or in deep despair.
Lead them by your hand and hold them fast.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Spirit, we pray to you, O God,
confident that all things work together for good
for those who love you
and are called according to your purpose.
Above all, we give you thanks, O God,
that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Romans 8:26, 28, 39

— Eucharist —

Invitation to Offering

At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1

Prayer of Dedication

At the communion table:
God of unending gifts,
we praise you for your abundant goodness.
As you are generous, we want to be generous too.
May the gifts we bring
extend your generosity into the world,
so that all people may be made whole
by your goodness and grace. Amen.

Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are the God of our ancestors and offspring.
Wherever we go, you are with us, to bless and keep us.
Surely you are with us now, in this holy place!

Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.

Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus taught us about the coming of your realm:
like seeds of wheat, growing up among the weeds.
At harvest, the evil will burn but the righteous will shine.
The words of institution are included here.

Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let your Holy Spirit speak within us, bearing witness
to our adoption as your beloved children,
and calling others to enter your loving embrace.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.

Lord’s Prayer

 

Breaking the Bread

 

Communion of the People

 

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Prayer after Communion

At the communion table:
Holy Spirit, you have filled us with your life.
Christ our Savior, you have embraced us in your love. 
God our Mother, you have fed us with your grace.
Now send us out into your beloved world
to share your life, your love, your grace with all.
Blessing and honor and glory to you,
holy, holy, holy Lord. Amen.

— Sending —

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Blessing and Charge

At the doors of the church:
May the blessing of the Trinity—
holy, holy, holy Lord—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Isaiah 6:3

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here I am; send me!” Amen.
Isaiah 6:8

“Dream of Jacob”

John August Swanson, 1986

Additional Materials

Congregational Song

GATHERING

  • Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining (G) SHINE, JESUS, SHINE (G) GTG 192
  • Christ Is Coming! (E) UNSER HERRSCHER (E) GTG 360
  • Praise God for This Holy Ground (O) HEYMONYSTRAAT GTG 405
  • We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder (O) JACOB’S LADDER (NEGRO SPIRITUAL) AAHH 464

WORD

  • We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom (E) MERLE’S TUNE GTG 378
  • The Church’s One Foundation (G) AURELIA GTG 321, PH 442
  • Listen to the Word That God Has Spoken (E) LISTEN GTG 455
  • As Jacob with Travel Was Weary One Day (O) JACOB’S LADDER (ENGLISH FOLK MELODY) EH 453

EUCHARIST

  • In Christ There Is No East or West (E) MCKEE, ST. PETER GTG 317, 318, PH 439, 440
  • Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation (O) O QUANTA QUALIA GTG 503, PH 516
  • Sheaves of Wheat (Una espiga) (G) UNA ESPIGA GTG 532
  • I Have Wandered Far from Home (O) WANDERER Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA

SENDING

  • Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (O) KEEP YOUR LAMPS GTG 350
  • Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine! (E) ASSURANCE GTG 839, PH 341
  • Everyone Who Longs for the Boundless Love of God (E) EVERYONE WHO LONGS GTG 849
  • Glory, Glory Hallelujah (O) GLORY, GLORY NCH 2

Psalms and Canticles

Psalm 139:1–12, 23–24

Metrical
  • You Are Before Me, Lord [SURSUM CORDA, HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL]; GTG 28, PH 248, PAS 139D, LUYH 336
  • O God, You Search Me [O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME]; GTG 29
  • My Lord, You Have Examined Me [RESIGNATION]; PAS 139A, SSS 503
  • Oh Señor, tú me has examinado / O Lord God, You Have Searched Me [Marisol Díaz]; PAS 139F, SSS 664
Responsorial
  • Lord, You Have Searched Me; PAS 139C, PSA 143
  • Lord, You Have Searched Me Out [TENDER THOUGHT]; HTP2 21
  • Examíname, oh Dios / Search and Know Me, O My God; SSS 510
  • Señor, tú ves mi corazón / Lord, See My Heart; SSS 56

Psalm 86:11–17

Metrical
  • Incline Your Ear, O Lord, to Me [DANBY, PROSPECT]; GTG 844, PP 158 (with refrain)
  • Lord, My Petition Heed [MASON]; PAS 86A, LUYH 889
  • Incline Your Ear, Lord [CMD]; SGP 123
Responsorial
  • For Love Is Lord of All; CP2 5
  • O Lord Our God, Unwearied Is Your Love [Gelineau]; PSA 79
  • You, O Lord, Are Good and Forgiving [ROUEN]; HTP2 12
  • Be with Me, Lord, When I Am in Trouble; PAS 86B

Organ Music

  • “The Peace May Be Exchanged,” Rubrics, Dan Locklair, HAL (ME)
  • “Dearest Jesus, at Your Word,” Four Quiet Hymn Settings, Thomas Gieschen, CON (E)
  • “Fuga in C,” Sonata no. 2, Felix Mendelssohn, public domain (M)

Anthems for Adult Choirs

  • “Sing to the Lord, Rejoice,” Telemann, arr. Hal Hopson, JM, 2 pt mx (E)
  • “From All That Dwell below the Skies,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, uni, pno (E)
  • “Psalm 139,” Allen Pote, CGA, SATB, pno (M)
  • “You Are Holy,” Harling, arr. John Helgen, AF, SATB, pno, vln, perc (E)
  • “O God, Beyond All Praising,” Dan Forrest, HIN, SATB, opt. brass, opt. orch, perc (MA)
  • “Praise the Lord,” Handel, arr. Hal Hopson, HF, SAB (M)
  • “The Kingdom,” André Thomas, HIN, SATB, pno (M)

Handbell Music

  • “The Church’s One Foundation,” Jason W. Krug, 3–6 oct, opt 2 oct hc, BP, HB488, Level 3
  • “Blessed Assurance,” Linda McKechnie, 3–5 oct, opt keybd, HOPE, hb 1388, keybd 1388K, Level 3+
  • “Keep Your Lamps,” Benjamin A. Tucker, 3–5 oct, opt djembe, ALF/JM, 47200, Level 2

Art

  • Dream of Jacob, John August Swanson (VDL)
  • Stairs to the Sky, Ezra Orion, sculpture, Jerusalem (VDL)
  • Alpha and Omega, sculpture, Barcelona (VDL)
  • In the Weeds, Jan Richardson (JR)